heinemann



Patented June I3, |899.

v E. [L HEINEMA.NN` & J. S. GOLDBEBG. AUTGMATIG MACHINE FOR FEEDING, IN'SEl'mTIN,l AND SETTING LACE FASTENERS.

No. 626,700. Patented June la. |399.

E. D. HEINEMANN '&. d. S. GULDBERG. AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR FEEDI'NG, INSERTING, AND SETTING LAGE FASTENERS.

('Appnc'asionmed Feb. 16, 189s.) "No Model.) Y 5 Shees-Sheet 2.

E. GSer-nle.

ms 'uonms Pneus co.. wom-urne.. wAsHmcnoN u c Patented lune I3, |899.

E. D; HEINEMANN 8:. J. S. GOLDBERG.. AUTUIIATIG MACHINE F08 FEVEDING, INSERTING, MID SETTING LAGE FASTENERS.

(Application led Feb. 16, 1893.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.Y

(N0 Model.)

No. 626,790. Patentedlune la, |899.

E. D. HEINEMANN & J. S. GDLDBERG. AUTOMATIC MACHINE FUR FEEDING, INSERTING, AND SETTING LACE F-ASTENERS.

(Application med Feb. 16, 1me.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

M11/77255566. l luflzwemm/x e www No. 626,700. Patented lune I3, I899. 4 E. D. HEIMEMANN &. J. S. GOLDBERG.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FUR FEEDING, INSEBTING, AND SETTING LAGE FASTENERS.

(Applicazim ma Fen 1e, 1:39a)

5 Shasta-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

'ya mams mens po, vnymnmov, wAsmnam UNITED STATES PATENT EMIL D. HEINEMANN AND JOHN S. GOLDBERG, O F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE TITAN 'FASTENER COMPANY, OE SAME PLACE.

I AUTOMATIC MACHINE TOR FEEDING, INSERTING, AND SETTING I ACE-TASTENERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,700, dated June 13, 1899. Application led February 16, 189 8: Serial No. 670,597. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that we, EMIL D. I-IEINEMANN and JOHN S. GOLDBERG, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Automatic Machine for Feeding, Inserting, Vand Setting Lace-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic machinesforfeeding, inserting, and settinglacefasteners.

The object of the invention is to providea machine of simple construction for automatically and eficientlydistributing, feeding, inserting, and setting lace-fasteners, and the particular object is to provide a machine for feeding, inserting, and setting lace-fasteners of the type, form, and construction set forth in Patent No. 586,818, to E. D. Heinemann.

Theinvention consists,substantially,in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various Views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure l is aview in front elevation of a machine embodying the principles of our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a broken detail view in plan, parts broken out and parts in section, showing the construction and arrangement of means for delivering the fasteners into the feed-chute or raceway from the feedhopper. Fig. 4E is a vertical central sectional View of the same on the line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5, Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow, showing the construction and arrangement of clutch by which the feed-hopper is thrown into and out of action. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View of the feed-chute or raceway on the line 6 G, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a broken detail view, in vertical section, showing the construction and arrangement of fastenersetting mechanism and the means' for positively delivering the fasteners from the end lof the chute or raceway into position for the granted July 20,1897,

setting mechanism to operate thereon and means for retaining the fasteners in this position. Fig. 8 is a broken detail viewIin transverse section on the line 8 8, Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 9 isa detached detail broken View of the fastener-setting plungers, the engaging parts of which are shown detached and separated. Fig. l0 is a broken detached detail sectional View in plan on the line l0 10, Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. ll is a detached detail View showing the means for retaining the fasteners in position to be acted upon by the setting-plunger and is an elevation looking from the right of Fig. lO, the separatinghorns being shown in section. Fig. l2 is a view in vertical section showing the anvils arranged in cooperative relation with respect to the setting-plungers shown in Eig. 7. Fig. 13 is a broken view, in side elevation, of the lower end of the plunger-casing, showing the arrangement of fastener-retaining means and the means for throwing the plunger parts into and out of operative relation with respect to each other. Fig. llis a detached detail broken view, in central longitudinal section, of the means for automatically arresting the operation of the distributing-hopper. Fig. 15 is a similar view of the same, showing the parts in displaced relation and illustrating the action thereof.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the drawings reference-sign A designates a suitable framework of a construction and arrangement adapting it to support the several parts of the apparatus. In the framework is suitably journaled to rotate a main driving-shaft B, upon which may be mounted suitable driving-pulleys-such, for instance, as fast and loose pulleys O D'-throu gh which motion is imparted to the Various operative parts of the apparatus.

In the particular form of apparatus shown, to which, however, we do not desire to be limited or restricted, provision is made for feeding both right and leftfasteners-that is, fasteners that are to be applied on the right-hand side of the shoe and also on the ICO left-hand side of the shoe. Therefore the arrangement of apparatus is duplicated on opposite sides of the machine. In the following description, however, we will refer only to the construction and arrangement on one side of the machine, it being understood that in a double-acting or duplicated machine the parts hereinafter to be described are the same on both sides.

Suitablymounted or formed on the frame is a plate E, having an upturned circularlyarranged iiange. Suitably arranged to rest upon this upturned iiange is a cylindrical casing F, forming what we shall call a hopper, into which the fasteners are dumped promiscuously, it being understood, of course, that only right fasteners are dumped into the hopper on one sidel of the machine and only left fasteners are dumped into the hopper on the other side of the machine. Preferably the hopper F and its supporting flanged plate E are arranged upon an incline,'as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the fasteners dumped into the hopper gravitate to the lower portion of the hopper. If desired, the top of the hopper may be covered by a cap or plate G, a portion H of which may be hinged to provide an opening through which the fasteners are introduced to the hopper.

The form of fastener which the machine is particularly designed to distribute, feed, insert, and set comprises a coiled body portion formed of one or more coils or convolutions and a partial coil or convolution terminating in ends K, projecting at substantially right angles to the plane of the coils of the body portion, as more particularly described in the patent above referred to. It will be seen, however, that the plane containing the projecting ends K of the fastener does not intersect the plane of the body portion thereof diametrically; but the plane containing said ends cuts the plane of the coils of the body portion to one side of the geometric center thereof, thus leaving a portion J of the body somewhat greater than a semicircle and a portion L somewhat less than a semicircle, and in the particular form of fastener shown in said patent the smaller segment L of the body portion includes only one coil. Vtith this construction of fastener clearly in mind we will now proceed to describe the specic construction of hopper and cooperating means particularly adapted to feeding and delivering fasteners of the particular type referred to, it being understood, however, that our invention is not limited to the automatic feeding of fasteners of this particular type or construction, as the principles of our invention may be equally well adapted for use in distributing and feeding fasteners of other constructions.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the cylindrical casing F, forming a part of the hopper, is so supported upon the upturned circula-r flange of plato E as to leave a clear space M between the lower edge of said casing F and the top surface of plate E. This space is just sufficient to accommodate the coils of the body portion of the fastener when resting flatwise upon the upper surface of plate E,with the ends K thereof projecting upwardly therefrom. In other words, the distance between the lower edge of casing F and the top surface of plate E corresponds to the axial thickness of the body portion of the fastener. In the lower edge of the cylindrical casing F are suitably cut or otherwise formed a series of slots or passages N, each of an area permitting the passage therethrough of only one leg or end K of a fastener, said slots or passages being of a depth from the lower edge of casing F corresponding to the length of the legs or ends K of the fastener and the slots or passages N being spaced a distance apart corresponding to the distance apart of the two legs or ends of a fastener. From this construction and arrangement it will be seen that when the body of a fastener rests liatwise upon the upper surface of plate E and one leg or end K of the fastener engages or enters one of the series of slots or passages N the other leg or end of the fastener will enter the next adjacent slot or passage N, thereby permitting the fastener to pass from the hopper. Preferably the lower edge of the casing F is of a thickness enabling the slots or passages N to receive only one fastener therein and to retain such fastener therein without danger of being displaced therefrom by other fasteners contained in the hopper until the particular slots or passages in which the fastener legs or ends are received are brought into register with the receiving mouth or passage of the raoeway, presently to be more fully7 described. Then this position is attained, the fastener passes from the hopper, thus making room for another fastener to enter. Preferably and in order to facilitate the ready and easy passage of the fasteners from the hopper the slots or passages N radiate from the center of the hopper, and preferably the eXtreme 'outer portions of the slots are enlarged, as clearly indicated at O, Fig. 3. By this construction we produce a hopper from which the fasteners may pass readily and easily and without choking or forming an obstruction. The upturn ed circular liange of supporting-plate E is provided with an opening (indicated at l), Figs. 3 and 4) arranged at a point opposite the lowest point of the hopper, whereby when the slots or passages N are brought into register therewith the fasteners may readily pass through and fromthe hopper. A chute or raceway suitably slotted, as will be more specificall y described hereinafter, is arranged with the entrance to the slot therein communicating or registering with the opening or passage P, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Suitably supported upon plate E, adjacent to the lower edge of the hopper, is a chamber AQ, in whichis mounted a disk R, having a roughened uppersurface,

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as clearly indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. The disk R is so relatively arranged with respect to the upper end of the chute or raceway and also with respect to the hopper as to be `Hush with the top surface of plate E and also to forma portion of the supporting-surface of the bottom of the raceway. In other words, the disk R is arranged to project slightly within the lower edge of the hopper, and it also forms a portion of the bottom of the chute or raceway. By imparting movement to this disk R the passage of the fasteners from the hopper is facilitated and insured.

We have indicated in the foregoing description that the cylindrical casing F, forming part of the hopper, is so mounted on plate E as to be movable with reference thereto. This movement may be either a rocking movement or a rotation. ln the particular form shown, to which, however, we do not desire to be limited, rotation is imparted tosaid hopper. Many specifically different arrangements of mechanism for imparting movement to the hopper may be devised, and while, therefore, we have shown and will now describe a speciic construction and arrangement of mechanism for accomplishing this purpose we do not desire to be limited or restricted thereto, nor do we claim such specific construction'Y herein, as the subject-matter thereof is set forth and claimed in the sole application of JohnS. Goldberg, executed and filed of even date herewith. However, we will describe such specific construction herein in order that the construction and arrangement of apparatus forming the subject-matter of this joint application and the cooperative relation thereof with respect to the other parts of the apparatus may be fully understood.

Suitably journaled in an arm or other suitable part of the frame'werk A is a shaft S, Fig. 4, upon which is mounted to revolve loosely a pulley T. This pulley may receive rotation through any suitable arrangement of gearing from the main drive-shaft-as, for instance, through a belt 16, arranged to pass around and-to be driven by apulley 17, mounted on a counter-shaft 1S, (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) and which is rotated from shaft B by means of the intermeshing gears 19. In the particular arrangement shown belt 1G passes from pulley 17 over a guide-pulley 20, thence in an open bight around the hopperdriving pulley on one side of the machine, thence around a guide 2l and in a crossed bight around pulley T, and thence over.

a guide 22 to pulley 17. By this arrangement the hoppers on opposite sides of the machine are rotated in opposite directions. It sometimes happens that it is desirable to arrest the actuation of the hopper in order to arrest the feed of the fasteners, and therefore provision is shown whereby the hopper is normally out of action, but may be thrown into action at will. To this end pulley Tis mounted to loosely revolve on shaft S, butis adapted to be clutched thereto. A specific form of a plate 27, arranged to engage one or the other of the shoulders 26 when said sleeve 25 is moved into proper position therefor, thereby locking the pulley T and the shaft S to rotate together. The engagement or disengagement of sleeve 25 with detent or plate 27 may be effected by means of a rod 28, arranged in the longitudinal bore of shaft S and through a transverse perforation in which pin 24 passes. A spring 29 operates to normally maintain rod 28 in position to hold sleeve 25 out of engagement with plate 27. Rod 2S may be projected endwise, as by means of a handle 3Q, pivotally secured to the frameworkand adapted to engage said rod. The hopper F is secured to rotate with shaft S in any suitable manner-as, for instance, by means of a rod 3l, passing transversely through said shaft and connected at the ends thereof with said hopper. From this construction it will be seen that the hopper is normally out of action; but by suitably actuating lever 30 pulley T is clutched to effect the rotation of shaft S, thereby'rotating the hopper.

We have indicated in the foregoing description that disk R is movable in order to ing movement or (and preferably) a rotation,

which may be secured in an'y suitable manner'--as, for instance, by means of a belt 32,

passing around-a pulley 33 (see Fig. 2) on the vshaft 34, upon which said disk is mounted.

This belt passes around guide-pulley 35 and overapulley 36 on main shaft B. By this construction it will be seen that a continuous rotation is imparted to disk R, and since said disk forms a part vof the bottom of the upper end of the chute or raceway and also projects slightly into the hopper, fiush with the bottom thereof, it will be seen that the fasteners are insured a passage and delivery from the hopper to the raceway.

It sometimes occurs that a fastener passes from the hopper with the wrong leg in advance. In such event it is important to provide an arrangement whereby the fasteners are turned around side for side, so that they may pass down the chute or raceway uniformly. To accomplish this result, a notch or recess 37 is provided in the slot or opening of the raceway, and immediately in advance 'of said recess and between the same andthe sufficient to enable a fastener to be turned' around axially. The operation is that in case a fastener is delivered into the upper end of the raceway with the wrong side foremost the lip or projection 38will form a detent for the rear or hindmost leg of the fastener, while the movement of disk R will carry the f foremost leg of the fastener around said lip,

thereby permitting gravity to carry said foref most leg into the seat or depression 37. The continued movement of disk R will thereupon cause the detained leg of the fastener to be disengaged from lip 3S and will rotate or swing the fastener around, so that thereafter j the initial hindmost leg will be advanced, thereby enabling the fastener to proceed down the chute or raceway in the proper f manner. Of course if the fastener passes from the hopper in the proper manner in the first instance neither of the legs thereof will 1 be detained by projecting lip 3S. Therefore this particular arrangement operates onlyy when the fastener passes from the hopper in i an improper position. While we have shown and have specifically described this feature of the construction, specific claim thereto is not made in this application, as the subjectmatter thereof is covered specifically in the application of John S. Goldberg, before meni tioned.

From the foregoing description it will be seen .that the fastenersvare delivered into ai raceway or feed-chute. The particular construction of this raceway is shown most clearly in Fig. 6. It will be observed that the raceway comprises a chamber 39 of a depth and width corresponding to the size of the body i portion of a fastener and having a slot 40, through which the legs K of the fastener project. In order to accommodate the particular form of fastener shown, the slot 40 is ar- Q ranged somewhat to onetside of the central; line of chamber 39, so that the larger portion i J of the `body of the fastener lies on one side i and the smaller portion L on the other side. i Therefore unless the fastener is delivered in a proper manner to the raceway it cannot en- 1 .ter or be fed down the chute or raceway. It will also be seen that the fasten eris delivered from the hopper with the ends K thereof proj ectin g upwardly. In order that the fastener i, may be delivered to the setting mechanism (presently to be described) in a `proper manl' ner and with the legs K of the fastener prei sented downwardly, it is necessary to provide i means whereby the fastener is inverted from f its'position on entering the raceway. In the Q particular form shown, to which our inven;

tion is not limited, this result is accomplished j by reversely bending or curving the raceway, (indicated generally at W,) as shown most l clearlyin Fig. 1, the lower or delivery end of c such-raceway being nall y bent into substantially horizontal relation. By this construcsion and arrangement the fasteners during their passage from the upperor receiving end to the llower or delivery end of the raceway to which they are to be applied. -It will also be seen that the fasteners are fed in single column. A

It sometimes occurs that the fasteners are delivered to the raceway more rapidly than they are delivered from the lower or delivery end of the raceway. In such event the raceway becomes filled with fasteners and a choke is liable to occur. In order to prevent and avoid this objection, it is desirable to provide means for automatically arresting the feeding of the fasteners when the raceway becomes filled. A specific construction and arrangement is shown for accomplishing this purpose. The present invention is not limited to such specific construction and arrangement and the specific subjectmatter thereof is not claimed herein, but forms the subject-matter of the companion application above referred to. /Ve will describe such specific construction, however, in order that the cooperative relation of the-several parts of the machine may be understood herein. In the form shown a. wheel 4l, having pins 42 .projecting theref from, is mounted to rotate in such relative position and relation as to permit thepins 42 to project through a suitable slot or opening in raceway WV and into the chamber 39 of said raceway, (see Figs. 14 and'l5,) so that said pins engage the column of fasteners in case the raceway becomes filled, whereby rotation of said wheel 4l is arrested. Upon the shaft 43, carrying said wheel, is mounted a peculiarlyshaped spiral gear 44. Arranged to mesh with gear-44 is a worm 45, mounted on a longitudinally-movableshaft 46, suitably journaled in a fixed sleeve 47 to rotate therein, vbut capable of longitudinal movement therethrough. A pulley 48 is suitably coupled to shaft 46 to rotate with same, but permitting said shaft to move longitudinally through said pulley. Upon this shaft or rod 46 is mounted a collar 49, a spring 50 being interposed between said collar and the end of sleeve 47, the normal tendency of said spring being to maintain shaft 46 in one limit of its longitudinal movement. The extreme end ofV shaft 46 carries a head 5l. Pivotally mounted upon a fixed part of the framework is a lever 52, through the upper end of which the shaft` 46 is arranged to project and the lower end thereof formed into a hook 53, constituting a retaining guide for lever 30. Formed on lever 52 is a hook or shoulder 54, operating as a retainer for lever 30 when said lever is cocked into position to'festablish engagement between the driving-pulley T and Ahopper F, a slight spring 55 serving to hold said hook 54 in` vposition to engage lever 30.

Continuous rotation is imparted to shaft 46 by means of a belt 5G, driven from pulley 33 and passing over pulley 4S. The operation ITO chute without clogging. Vhen the chute becomes filled to a point such as to enable the pins 42 to engage with the top of the column, as indicated in Fig. 14, the rotation of gear 44 is arrested. Thereupon said gear 44 operates as a stationary screw-block with respect to worm 45, which is continuously rotating, thereby causing said gear and shaft 46 to be drawn longitudinally until the teeth of gear 44 are cleared by worm 45, as indicated in Fig. l5. This longitudinal movement of shaft 46 is against the action of spring 50, which normally tends to return worm 45 into rotative engagement withgear 44. The longitudinal movement of shaft 46, above mentioned, causes the head 5l on the end thereof to engage the upper end of lever 52 and rock the same about its pivot and against the action of its spring 55 and in a direction to carry shoulder 54 clear of lever 30, thereby releasing said lever and permitting the same to drop. vThereupon spring 29 will project rod 28 endwise in a direction to cause clutch-sleeve 25 to become disengaged from plate or tooth 27, thereby arresting the rotation4 of the hopper, and hence arresting the feed of the fasteners. This relation of the parts is maintained until pin-Wheel 4l is again permitted to rotate-that is, until the fasteners are delivered in suiiicient number from the lower end of the raceway to cause the column to descend, therebyreleasing pinwheel 4l. Thereupon spring 50 operates to return shaft 46 to its initial position, with worm 45v intermeshing with gear 44, as shown in Fig. 14. This movement, however, does not result in starting up the hopper, and therefore a feeding of the fasteners from the hopper will not be resumed. This can only be accomplished by the attendant again rocking lever 30, thereby clutching pulley T to shaft S, and when said lever 8O is rocked into positionV to be retained by shoulder 54 the delivery of the fasteners from the hopper is resumed. A

We will now describe a specific construction and arrangement of fastener delivering, setting, and clenching mechanism. Except, however, as to the particular combinations set forth in the appended claims, the specic construction and arrangement of setting and delivering means shown and non7 to be de-l scribed herein do not form part of our joint invention, but the specic subject-matter thereof is embodied in the companion application before referred to. Therefore so far as the present invention is concerned many specifically different constructions of mechanism for inserting and setting the fastener may be employed in connection with the combination forming the subject-matter of this joint application and still fall wi thin the spirit andscopeofourinvention. Intheformshown, V designates a casing in which the plungers are arranged to operate. As shown in Fig. 7 and in detail in Fig. 9,the' plungeris formed in two parts 5758, the part 58 forming the setting-plunger proper and the part 57 forming the operating part of the plunger. Each of these parts of the plunger is forked, the fork being formed by removing a longitudinaljsegment from diametrically opposite sides thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The fork of one portion of the plunger is arranged normally to straddle and Work in the fork of the other section of the plunger. The section 57 of the plunger is connected to a plunger-head 59, suitably reciprocated from a crank-pin 60 on a'disk6l, mounted on and rotating with main shaft B through a connecting-liuk 62. (See Fig. l.) Thus continuous'reciprocation is imparted to the portion 57 of the plunger. The normal position of the lower part 58 of the plunger is such that the reciprocating part 57 works freely thereon; but at the upper limit of each reciprocation the lower end of said upper part clears the upper end of the lower part. An arm 63 is connected to the lower part 58 of the plunger, said arm projecting through a slot or opening 64 in casing V. To said arm is pivotally connected arod 65, pivotally connected at its other end to one arm of a bellcrank lever 66, pivotally mounted upon the framework. (See Fig. 13.) To the other arm of said bell-crank lever is yieldingly con- IOO IOS

nected a rod 67 through a suitable spring 68.

By suitably projecting rod 67 endwise, as by means of a foot-treadle, (not shown,) bellcrank 66 is rocked, thereby drawing bar 65 endwise, and hence rotating the lower section 58 of the plunger. Of course this rotation is not permitted until the lower end of the upper section 57 of the plunger is freed from engagement with the upper end of the lower portion 58 of said plunger. Of course it is not necessary that rod 67 be projected endwise only when said disengagement takes place, for it is obvious that an endwise tension may be imposed on rod 67 by the operator, which tension will be taken up in spring 68, but such tension will not be operative to effect a rocking of portion 58 of the plunger until it is disengaged from portion 57; but the moment such disengagement takes place a partial axial rotation of portion 58 of the .plunger is accomplished. A spring 69 serves to normally maintain portion 58 of the plunger in position for the portion 57 to straddle and reciprocate telescopically thereon. however, the lower section 58 of the plunger is partially rotated, asabove explained, the ends of the solid segments of the fork of section 57 are brought into register with the ends of the solid portions of the fork of sec- IIO tion 58 of the plunger. Thereupon the downward reciprocation of part 57 of the plunger pushes the portion 58 of the plunger downwardly therewith. The groove 64C in the casing through which arm G3 projects is so shaped, as shown in Fig. 13, as to permit the downward movement of the portion 5S, but prevents relative rotation of said portion during such downward movement after it has been rotated into position to cause the abutment above referred to. A spring 70, operating on bar 65, serves to elevate or return plunger 58 to its upper limit, and said spring 70,v in connection with spring G9, serves to return said portion 58 to its initial or normal position for the upper section 57 to again straddle it and to slide freely thereover. The downward movement 0f the plunger, as

-above described, serves to insert a fastener,

suitably supported in line therewith, in the material to which the fastener is to'be applied.

In an apparatus embodying the duplicated arrangement, as above described, on opposite sides of the machine it is desirable to provide means whereby the plungers on one side only of the machine may be operative, while permitting the plungers on both sides to operate in unison when required'. This result may be accomplished as by means of a suitable clutch, (indicated at 71,) by which the crank-arm 66 on one side or the other of the machine may be thrown into and out of action whenever desired.

IVe will now describe the holder for the fastener, upon which the fastener is delivered from the raceway by which it is held and retained in line with the pl un ger, referring particularly to Figs. 7, S, 10, 11, and 13.

Reference-sign 72 designates a bar or rod mounted to slide in a seat formed in head V. A spring 73 serves to normally but yieldingly maintain said bar in elevated position. Upon the lower end of this bar are pivotally mounted plates 74 75, each provided with a wing or projection 7 6 and also with an angular projection 77. The plates 74 75are held slightly separated from each other, as by means of a projection 7 S on arm 72 entering the space between the angular projections 77, as shown in Fig. 11. The spring 79 normally operates to press the angular projections 77 toward each other. The space between the angular projections 77 is just su fficient to receive therein the legs of a fastener, the body portion of the fastener resting upon the upper surface of said plates or projections. These angular plates or projections 77 are arranged in position to support a fastener in alinement with the plunger 58. Vhen the plunger is operated endwise, as above explained, the lower end thereof first engages the upper surface of the body of the fastener. The continued projection or endwise movement of section 5S of the plunger carries with it the arm or bar 72 against the action of spring 73. In the path of downward movement of plates 74 75, carried by said arm or bar 72,

are arranged fixed arms S0 in position to engage the projecting wings 76 ofplates 74 75,

thereby rocking said plates about their pivots and against the action of spring 79, thus releasing the fastener and permitting it to pass between the angular projections of said plates. This separation, however, does not occur until the ends of the fastener have been inserted in the material sufficiently to obtain 'a firm hold thereon.

It is important that upon each downward reciprocation or movement of the plunger 5S a fastener be certainly and positively deposited or delivered upon the holder or retaining-plate 77 in order that the machine may not miss setting a fastener upon each cycle of action of plunger-section 58. accomplish this result, we have shown and will describe a specific construction and arrangement; but we do not claim the same herein7 as the specific construction and arrangement thereof are shown and claimed in the companion application led herewith. In the form shown we provide adjacent to the lower or delivery end of the raceway W a guide 81, in which slides a bar 2, suitable resistance-such, for instance, as a spring S3, the tension of which is regulated by set-nut 84E-being arranged to oppose the sliding movement of said rod. Rod S2 is pivotally connected at its loweren'd to an angular lever 85, having a foot SG, serrated or roughened on its under surface and arranged to project through a slot or opening in raceway WV in position to engage the top surface of the Afasteners. In a bracket 87 is journaled a rockshaft 8S, upon one end of which is mounted an arm S9, loosely pivoted to the crank-arm S5, as by means of a slot-and-pin connection, (indicated at 90, Fig. 7.) Upon the other end of rock-shaft or pin S8 is mounted an arm 01, arranged to project into the path of the movement of a reciprocating or movable part of the apparatus which moves with the plungersection S-such, for instance, as arm 65. (See Figs. 7 and S.) The rocking of rockshaft or pin SS is opposed by means of a spring 92. The operation of this part of the apparatus is as follows: Upon each downward reciprocation of portion 5S of the plunger arm G5 engages arm 91 and rocks the same against the action of spring 92, thereby rocking shaft 88 and arm 89. This movement of arm 89 through its pivotal and loose connection with angle-arm S5 first rocks the said angle-arm about its pivotal connection with bar 82 and continues until a lug 93, formed on said angle-arm, engages said bar 82. This rocking movement of angle-arm 85 raises head S6, formed thereon, out of engagement with a fastener. After the engagement of lug 93 with bar 82 the continued rocking movement of arm 89 projects bar S2 endwise into casing 8l, carrying with it angle-arm 85, with the head 8G thereof still lifted. This operation takes place during the action of the plunger 58 in effecting an insertion of. the fastener In order to IOO IIO

to cause angle-lever 85 to rock about its pivotal connection with bar S2 and into position for the head S6 thereof to engage the top su rface of the next fastener. Thereafter the continued swinging movement of arm S9 causes bar 82 to be withdrawn endwise from casing S1, carrying vin advance thereof the anglearm 85, thereby positively-pushing the fasthis position until the plunger again begins its descent, and thereupon the head S6 is first 'raised and then withdrawn, as above veX- plained.

In line with the plunger-section 5S and arranged to cooperate therewith is a setting die or anvil 94, (see Fig. 12,) adjustably mounted in a fixed block 95, forming part of the framework. The die or anvil 94 may be held in adjusted position by means of set-screw 9G and may be adjusted vertically by means of screw 97. A plate 9S, having a central opening 99, through which the top surface of anvil or die J4 is arranged to pass, is supported on the bed plate or block 95 and is provided with upturned flanges 100, arranged, preferably, in right-angular relation with respect to each other, thereby forming retaining flanges or guides forthe article to which the fasteners are to be applied. By this construction it will be seen that uniformity in attaching fasteners to articles is secured-that is, the article is held, when in position to receive a fastener, in uniform relation to the setting-plunger.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that we provide an exceedingly simple and efficient apparatus for automatically feeding, inserting, and setting lace-fasteners, and

We believe that the operation of the machine will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Having now set forth the obj ect and nature of our invention and a form of apparatus embodying the same and having described the construction, function, and mode of operation thereof, what we claim as new and useful and of our joint invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In anautomatic machine for feeding and insertinglace-fasteners, a revolving feed-hopper adapted to receive the fasteners, said hop,-`

per inclined relative to a horizontal plane, and having slots in the' lower edge thereof, and raised above the base, a raceway communicating with saidhopper and adapted to receive the fasteners'therefrom singly and in single column, whereby the. fasteners enter the raceway with the ends thereof projecting upwardly, a rotary disk mountedpartiallyin the receiving endL of the said raceway and partly in said hopper for positively delivering the fasteners into the raceway, said raceway reversely bent or curved and having its delivery end bent into substantially horizontal relation, whereby the fasteners are inverted and are delivered with the ends thereof projected downwardly, a sett-ing mechanism, and means for positively delivering the fasteners from said raceway. to said setting mechanism, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an automatic machine for settinglacefasten-ers, a casing, a plunger mounted to reciprocate therein, means for actuating said plunger, a holder-bar mountedto slide in said casing, means for yieldingly maintaining said bar in elevatedposition, a pair of winged plates pivotally mountedon said' holder-bar, said plates provided with flangesyarranged to -project across the path of reciprocation of said plunger and adapted to receive thereon and retain the fasteners in line with said plunger, said holder-bar provided with a projection normally engaging between said iianges, whereby said flanges are separated a distance sufficient to receive therebetween the legs of the fastener, and stationary arms arranged in the path of movement of the wings of said plates for engaging the same y and' rocking said plates, whereby the fasteners are released, as and for the purpose set forth.

IOO

3. In an automatic machine for feedinglacel fasteners having separated'legs, the combination of a feed-hopper comprising a stationary base-plate, a rotary cylindrical casing mounted thereon, andI raised therefrom a distance sucient to enable the body of the fasteners to pass underneath the lower edge of said casing,said lower edge being kerfed or grooved a distance apart corresponding to the distance between the legs of the fastener, whereby, when a fastener is delivered from said hopper, the body of the fastener passes through the space under the lower edgev of the casing, while the legs thereof pass through the passages or kerfs in said -lower edge, a raceway communicating with said hopper, and means operating partly within said casing and partly within the receiving end of said raceway, for

'starting the fasteners from the hopper and Iof is raised above the surface of said plate a' distance sufficient to accommodate the body of the fastener, the loweredge of said casing provided with passages or kerfs spaced a-dis- IIO IZO.

tance apart corresponding to the distance between the legs of individual fasteners, said passages or kerfs radiating from the geometric center of said casing, and a raceway com-v municating with said hopper, as and for the purpose set forth.

5, In an automatic machine for feeding lacefasteners having separated legs, the combination of a feed-hopper comprising a -stationary base-plate having an upturued flange, a cylindrical casin g rotaril y supported upon said u pturned ilange,whereby the lower edge thereof is raised above the surface of said plate a distance vsufficient to accommodate the body of the fastener, the lower edge of said casing provided with passages or kerfs spaced a distance apart corresponding to the distance between the legs of individual fasteners; and,

radiating from the geometric center ofthe casing, said kerfs or passages increasing iu tanceisufiicient to accommodate the body of.

a fastener, said casing having slots or passages in the lower edge thereof, means for rotatingsaid casing, a raceway communicating with said hopper at the lower edge thereof, and a rotary disk arranged partly within said raceway and partly Within said casing and forming a portion ofthe bottoms thereof, said disk operating to positively feed the fasteners from said casing into said raceway, as and for the purpose set forth.

' '7. In an automatic machine for feeding lacefasteners,'a stationary base-plate having an upturned flange, a cylindrical Casin g rotarily supported upon saidr upturned flange, Whereby the lower edge thereofr is raised above thev surfaceA of said platea distance sufficient to l I accommodate the body of a fastener, said casingprovided'with radial slots in the lower edge-thereof spaced a distance apart corresponding to thedistance between the legs of a fastener,a racen-'ay communicating with said casing, a disk` arranged partly Within vsaidracewayand partly Within said casing and forminga portion of the bottoms thereof, and

means for rotating said disk and casing, as

and for'the purpose set forth;

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands, this 29th day of January, 1898, in Ithe presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

EMIL D. IAIEINEMANN. JOHN S. GOLDBERG.

Witnesses:

CHAs. H. SEEM, S. E. DARBY. 

